What kind of Enfield is This? (with Pictures...)

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Kestrel

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I found this Enfield in a shop. The guy said it came from Ellot Brothers. He said it was found in a warehouse, in unfired condition... (ahem... uh, yeah...). Anyway, it's stamped "CAI" on the barrel, so I guess it was imported by Century Arms at one time. It appears to be in really good condition and actually does look unfired. The muzzle is also filled with cosmoline, but it has been cleaned off of most of the rest of the gun. It came with a bayonet, but the guy said someone stole the magazine from the rifle while it was in the shop. (So, now I have to find a magazine somewhere.)

I know very little about Enfields. I would very much appreciate any info about this gun or comments. The side of the gun is etched "No. 4 MK2" and then what appears to be a serial number.

Is this a British gun? Pakastani? Australian? I don't see any kind of country or factory or company marking on it. (The importer markings say UK, but I don't know.)

What kind of wood is this? Beech? Birch?

Anyway, attached are some pictures. Sorry for posting so many...

Thanks,
Steve
 
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This is the side of the band that goes around the grip behind the receiver...
 
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It's the final version of the Enfield. These guns were 'mummy wrapped' and imported by CAI about ten years ago. Good deal, nice condition. You won't find a nicer Enfield around. There are probably others who will say much more than I.
 
This is the bottom of the barrel band...

(This "F 52" is stamped in a few places on the gun.)
 
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This is some kind of stamp on top of the front of the receiver...
 
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This is a shot of some markings on the stock, behind the trigger guard (underneath)
 
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This is the top of the bolt, as it is retracted and right behind the rear sight. There is a "BY?" stamped inside the groove.
 
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Markings on the base of the bayonet. The bayonet also seems to be unused.
 
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This is the buttplate. It looks like it's brass.

(This really is the last one...)
 
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Looks like one of the NIW 1955 No4Mk2s that came over about 10 years ago. Made at the Royal Ordinance Factory at Fazakerly (a small town outside of Liverpool), put directly into war reserve storage, then surplussed in the 90s. One of the few Enfields you'll find that is actually correct in unfired/unissued condition.

They're great rifles, if the price is right, I'd buy it. Specimens still in their wrapper can go as high as the 500-600 dollar range, less if unwrapped.

From the look of the pics, it's the real deal. How much are they asking for it?
 
I bought it for $270.

Do you know if any unused magazines are available?

Thanks again,
Steve
 
$270 is not a bad price at all.

Numrich has mags Gun Parts Corp.. Some people have mentioned getting the wrong parts from them, but I've had nothing but good experiences with them. BTW, the mags they have are listed for the No4Mk1, but they're the exact same thing.

You could try Brian Dick at BDL Ltd, a little expensive, but a great guy to do business with, and you get exactly what you pay for. High quality stuff, he really knows Enfields.

Springfield Sporters is another good bet, they just reopened for business. I've never ordered from them, but have heard nothing but good things.

Looks like you have a great rifle on your hands. Take it out and shoot it, and you'll find that Enfields are seriously addicting!

Good luck.
 
Enfields, ah enfields

Jrhead,
Sounds like you made a great find.

I'd recommend a couple books for you.

Ian Skennerton's "Lee Enfield Story". Hardcover book which will run about $50-60 or so which contains everything you wanted and didn't want to know about the Short Magazine Lee Enfield.

I'd also recommend Stratton's books on the Lee Enfield. I think that he teaches at the University of Idaho.

You have a No 4 Mk 2 SMLE. THe No 4 was adopted around 1937 or so by the British military and served until the mid 1950s or so when it was replaced with the FN Fal type of rifle offically called the L1A1 if I recall correctly.

The Stratton books are in a series and run about $16 apeice. I'd start with them but pick up the volume on No 4 rifles.

I'm not at home so I can't tell you the complete titles. The Stratton books were published through 'collectors only'. Email me if you'd like.

There are a couple of milsurp sites that have quite a bit of information.

Being in 303 caliber, have found that the spire point bullets from Federal work better than Remington's round nose bullets. Surplus Greek ammunition is also good if you can find it.

-Jim
 
Springfield Sporters is another good bet, they just reopened for business. I've never ordered from them, but have heard nothing but good things.
Click to expand...

Nice to know. Too bad Mozilla chokes on the website.
 
The Lee Enfield is not an M16. It was not designed to be reloaded by swapping magazines. If you look, the magazine in this rifle should be numbered to match. These rifles were issued with only one mag. and were reloaded with five round chargers. Additional magazines often need to be fitted and tweaked to get them to feed properly. Having a spare is one thing, but don't plan on having a whole brace of them in your webbing. The feed lips are subject to bending if carried around outside the rifle a lot.
 
Great, great rifle. Too bad someone stole the original magazine :fire: . Don't know what the wood is called, but it sure looks good, especially for a rifle getting close to fifty years old ;) . I gave mine a few coats of boiled linseed oil after I cleaned off the cosmoline, it really helps restore both looks and durability to the stock. I really like the PMP (South African commercial) .303 ammo for mine. You can order it from Century for a fair price. Enjoy :D .
 
A little advice. MAKE SURE YOU CLEAN THE BARREL IMMEDIATELY AFTER SHOOTING CORROSIVE AMMO. You'd be suprised how fast the ammo corrodes your brand new barrel.

Ask me how I know :banghead:
 
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